Cyclone after cyclone. Worsening conflicts and insecurity. A historic El Niño weather event. More people displaced than at any moment since World War II. It’s not hard to see why 2016 might be the worst year for children.

Today, twice as many people are affected by conflict, disaster and other humanitarian crises compared to a decade ago - including 250 million children living in areas affected by conflict and over half a billion in high flood risk areas.

Already this year, conflict and extreme weather have left millions of children at risk: forced out of school and away from their homes, exposed to extreme hunger, violence, disease and abuse. Take a look through some of the most pressing humanitarian emergencies so far in 2016.

Since the 7.8 earthquake struck Ecuador on 16 April, approximately 849 aftershocks have been felt, including six with a magnitude greater than 6.0. Every time the ground begins to shake, children have to relive the profound stress of that first terrifying quake.

In neighbouring Iraq, as many as 11 million require humanitarian assistance after hostilities erupted in January 2014. Millions are displaced within Iraq, and refugees from regional conflict have placed an enormous strain on local communities. 70% of refugee children in Iraq have now missed at least one year of school. Nearby Yemen is at the point of collapse after a year of conflict that has seen an average of six children killed or injured every day in 2015.

This girl was abducted by Boko Haram to become a child bride. She spent thirteen months in captivity before being rescued by Cameroonian troops and now lives in a refugee camp. UNICEF/UN015783/Prinsloo

Today, around one in nine of the world’s children lives in a conflict zone. And as more and more homes and basic services are destroyed, the number of people forced from their homes continues to grow. Europe alone received more than one million refugees and migrants in 2015 as people travelled over land and water, risking everything in the hope of a safe place to live.

Be there for children in crisis

UNICEF responds to 250 emergencies every year. When disaster strikes, ​our teams act quickly to deliver​ life-saving food, clean water, medicines and psychological support to children and families. In emergencies, UNICEF can:

Deliver essential supplies to prevent malnutrition and illness. In Afghanistan, we have provided children and women with nutrition and safe water, and cared for children who had been separated from their families.

Help new mothers give birth safely and protect their newborns. In Ukraine, we’ve given health professionals midwifery kits to ensure safe deliveries for 13,500 babies.

Protect children from deadly disease outbreaks. In Burundi, we’ve reached some 160,000 people with information to keep them safe from deadly outbreaks of cholera.

Supply life-saving clean, safe water to children in crisis. UNICEF has helped almost 3 million people in Yemen access clean drinking water.

Keep children in school and safe from violence. In Iraq, we’ve set up temporary learning spaces, ensuring more than 200,000 children who are out of school continue to receive an education.

Provide psychosocial support for traumatised children and families. In Nigeria, we’ve provided psychosocial support to more than 42,000 children, helping them cope with the distressing effects of the conflict.